TRIPS BY MONTH

Claudia Kerckhoff-Van Wijk

Claudia is a 10-time Canadian National Whitewater Kayaking champion and was the bronze medalist in the World Championships in 1982. She is passionate about the sport and has conveyed that when broadcasting as an analyst for CBC Television's coverage or the kayak/canoe slalom events at several Olympic Games.

Her profile picture was taken in 2015 and shows her as part of the relay with the Pan AM Games Torch as husband, Dirk Van Wijk, paddled her down the Gull River.

Dirk and Claudia married in 1985 and took over the reins of both OWL Rafting and Madawaska Kanu Centre in 1988. Both are very active in the day to day operations year round.

MKC was started by Claudia's parents Hermann and Christa Kerckhoff and was the first whitewater paddling school in the world. Patterned after a European ski school, Madawaska features national and world champion kayakers working as instructors, world-class cuisine, a safe environment on the Madawaska River and weeks dedicated to instruction for women, families and seniors.